Sheet feeding machine



June 15, 1937.- R. REINARTZ SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Match 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 15, 1937. R. REINARTZ SHEETFEEDING MACHINE Filed March 4 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 inariz,

Robert Re Patented it... 15, 1937 3 PATENT OFFICE SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Robert'Reinartz, Offenbach, near Frankfort-onthe-Main, Germany, assignor to Arthur Wormser, Offenbach, near. Frankfort-on-the-Main,

Germany Application March 4, 1937, Serial No. 129,089

- In Germany July 20, 1932 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-27) In my copending application Serial No. 601,380,

filed March 26, 1932, I have described a sheet feeding machine in which a sheet support is combined with sheet forwarding means adapted to advance a series of superimposed sheets, said forwarding means including pneumatic means adapted to receive a sheet and engage it at its lower surface and move said sheet to bring its upper surface into contact with the lowermost one Of said superimposed sheets, reciprocating sheet separating means arranged to remove a sheet from said support and advance it to said pneumatic means so that a space will be provided underneath said sheet, and means for moving said separating means into said space heneath said sheet for the purpose of engaging and .separating a succeeding sheet.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement of .the sheet forwarding means. The improvement consists in the forwarding rollers being purely mechanical and the pneumatic means being moved independently of the mechanical rollers within annular spaces provided between them.

Two embodiments of my invention are shown in the drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a front and side elevation of the first embodiment;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the same embodiment in another position of the parts and sheets;

Figs. 4-5 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of the second embodiment; and Figs. 6-7 illustrate in rear and side elevation respectively a preferred conventional mechanism whereby the sheet separating members may be actuated.

In Figs. 1-3, I is a stack of sheets from which the sheets are to be individually separated and fed to the forwarding rollers 2 whichQby means 0 of any conventional mechanism, may be moved either continuously with constant or varying speed or intermittently.

The forwarding rollers 2 are cooperating with pressure rollers 3 which may continuously be pressed down onto sheets to be forwarded and run at the same speed as the forwarding rollers, or said rollers 3 may be lifted intermittently to receive a new sheet between them and said rollers}.

The average speed of the forwarding rollers 2 is such that their circumferential travel dur-- ing every cycle of operation is less than the length of the sheets to be handled,'so that the sheets will be in lapped relation when being forwarded by the rollers '2 and 3.

' Four overlapping sheets 4 to I are shown in Fig. 2. Of these sheets three are being forwarded while the last sheet I is just being transferred from the separating nozzles 22 to the forwarding nozzles I l.

As referred. to herein, said forwarding rollers may be driven intermittently by means of any conventional mechanism, for instance as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

Concerning the manner in which the sheets are separated and forwarded up to the position shown in Fig. 2, the mechanism involved may be identical to that illustrated and described in my said' copending application. In that application a mechanism is described according to which the pneumatic separating means are arranged near the front corners of the stack and after transferring a sheet-to the pneumatic forwarding means the separators are returned to the position where they engage the next sheet by moving around the lateral edges of the forwarding sheet. However, it will be understood that any other suitable pneumatic means may be applied to the upper surface of the sheet lying on the stack to separate it from the stack and bring it up to the shown position.

8 is a continuously rotating shaft on which two cams 9 and w are arranged for every forwarding nozzle at which latter any appropriate number may be provided, depending on the width of the sheet. The nozzles ll are mounted on a tube l2 the rear end of which is connected to a suction air conduct l2. Conventional means not shown may be applied to give the needed suction effect and to -start"and terminate the application of this effect to sheet I. Y

The tube I2 is provided with pivots I4 and I5. Pivot' i4 is rockably connected to a bell crank lever l6 which is rockably mounted'on a shaft l1 and which on its other arm carries a roller it running on cam 3. On shaft II another lever is is rocked by means of roller '20 running on cam Ill. The springs which urge rollers l8 and 20 against their respective cams are not shown. Lever i9 is pivotally connected to pivot 15 by means of connecting rod 2|.

The parts just described are so arranged that they move within an open annular gap left between the spaced rollers 2 so that they are free to make'those motions which are necessary to impart to the nozzles II the forwarding motion to be described now.

In the position shown in Fig. 2 the sheet I is being transferred from the separating nozzles 22 to the forwarding nozzles II by stopping, the

suction effect in the separating nozzles 22 and starting it in the forwarding nozzles II, the speed of both sets of nozzles being about or exactly the same at that moment, and the separating nozzles thereupon will be returned to their position on top of the pile I shown in Fig. 3 by being moved around an edge of the sheet. Essentially during the same period of time the nozzles II, by the operating means described, are to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 over a path whereby a sheet 1 is advanced to a position beneath the preceding sheets 6, 5, '4- and to the point where all of said sheets will be in the bite of the rollers 2 and 3.

When the position shown in Fig. 3 is reached, then the nozzles II have lifted the sheet I so that its upper surface is brought into contact with the lower surface of the preceding sheet 6. The pressure rollers 3 may be lifted at this moment which is preferable, or their pressure may be continuously applied even when the new sheet is being moved into the bite of the rollers. In both cases it is recommendable that the nozzle II at this moment has the same speed as the preceding sheets 4'6. Suction efiect in nozzles H is then stopped and the new sheet 1 is forwarded by rollers 2 and 3 together with the preceding sheets.

It may-be mentioned that if the rollers 3 are arranged to rock up and down then other rollers I of any conventional type must be provided to keep the overlapping sheets 46 in their correct position or motion. Tapes may be applied to rollers 2 as is well known in the art.

After having transferred the sheet 1 the nozzles II are moved forward such a distance as is needed to decelerate them and then they are moved back to the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby it is preferable to lower them so far that they do not touch the sheet just having been transferred.

In Fig. 3 is to be seen that the level of the rollers 2 is chosen so that between the sheet just being transferred, namely 1, and the top surface of the pile, there is a certain space left where the separating nozzles 22 may enter. But any of the additional means whereby the sheets are separated andforwarded as disclosed in my copending applications Ser. No. 601,380 and/or Ser. No. 58,464 may be applied for that purpose, furthermore, additional separating means arranged at the rear end of the pile may be ap-. plied having all the details and variations mentioned in either one of said applications.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 distinguishes' from the first embodiment only. by

,the fact that the forwarding nozzles 23 are moved on a circular path concentric to the axis of forwarding rollers 2. This is accomplished by one cam 24 secured to shaft 3, one of said cams being provided for every nozzle 23. On this cam runs a roller which is mounted on one arm of a bell crank lever 26. The forwarding nozzles 23 are fixed to an arm of another be l crank lever 21 which latter is mounted to the axis of the rollers 2. The respective ends of the levers 26 and 21 are pivotally connected by means of connecting rod 23.

The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as the one of the first embodiment. The only difference is that at the moment when a sheet 1 is being transferred from the separating nozzles 22 to the nozzles 23, the latter do not project beyond the periphery of the rollers 2 and the nozzles 22 must therefore be moved to a point adjacent said nozzles 23 and rollers.

Instead of arranging individual cams on shaft 8 for every forwarding nozzle H or 23, each series of said nozzles may be secured to a common shaft operated by single cams 3, III or 24 respectively.

In order that the separating nozzles 22 may be operated to transfer sheets from the pile to the forwarding nozzles 23 and thereupon re-' turn into a position to engage the next sheet,

as indicated herein, any well known, conventional mechanism may be used.

A preferred means for accomplishing this is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and the function of which means is similar to that described in my said copending application Serial No. 601,380.

According to this preferred embodiment of which Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly in crosssection, and Fig. 7 a cross-sectioned side elevation taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 6. a shaft 23 is mounted in bearings and 3| provided in the supporting brackets 32 carried by a shaft 33. A rock arm 34 is rigidly secured to said shaft 23 which arm in turn supports within suitable bearings a rack bar 35 with its rack 36 as well as a shaft 31.which latter is provided with an air duct through which suction is applied to the nozzle 22 in any suitable manner. Said rack and shaft are so arranged that they reciprocate laterally in unison. Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the rack bar 35 by means of a gear segment 33 as will beexplained hereinafter.

To the inner free end of the shaft 31 is secured a separating nozzle 22, while an air. hose 33 may be connected to the other end of said shaft.

The parts involved for actuating the nozzle or nozzles 22, one of which may be arranged adjacent each front corner of a pile of sheets, derive A.

.43 which latter is supported to rotate within bearings 43 and 50 provided in the brackets 32.

The rocking motion is imparted to the rock arm 34 by means of a cam 5| mounted on the shaft 43 and which cam actuates a bell crank lever, similar to 52 shown in Fig. 7. and which is connected to the rock arm 34. One arm of The said lever carries a cam roller as 53 which is urged against the cam 5| in any conventional manner such as by means of a spring 54 mounted to exert pressure against the other arm of said bell crank lever.

In order to reciprocate the rack bar 35 laterally, and therewith the nozzle 22, a cam 55, see Fig. 6, of suitable contour is also mounted on the shaft 43. As will be seen from Fig. 6, the stud 56, on which the gear segment 33 is mounted, also carries a bevel gear 51 which meshes with a bevel gear 53. The latter is se' cured to a bellcrank lever 52,. see Fig. 7, so

that when it is rocked by the cam 55, as described herein in connection with the cam 5| and its associated parts, the segment 33 also will be rocked and will thereby produce a lateral such as 23, the nozzle will move outward beyond 7 the margin of the sheet and then downward and eluding pneumatic means, arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surfaceadjacent its leading edge and. separate it from a pile of sheets, a plurality of second pneumatic means operated to take over a separated sheet from said first mentioned pneumatic means and engage the sheet at its lower surface, and a series of axially spaced forwarding members arranged to receive separated sheets from said second pneumatic means and advance them in lapped relation, each of said latter pneumatic means operating within the space provided between a pair of said forwarding members to transfer sheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already being forwarded by said members.

2. In a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet separating means and shee \forwarding means adapted to convey sheets inlapped relation to a paper handling machine such as a printing press, said separating and forwarding meafis including suction nozzles arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surface adjacent its leading edge and separate it from a pile of sheets, a plu- 'rality'of"second suction nozzles operated to take over a separated sheet from saidv first mentioned suction nozzles and engage the sheet at its lower arranged to receive separated sheets from said second suction nozzles and advance them in lapped relation, each of said latter-nozzles operating within the space provided between a pair of feed rollers to transfersheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of'sheets already being forwarded by said rollers.

3. In a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet separating means and sheet forwarding means adapted to convey sheets in lapped relation to a paper handling machine such as a printing press, I said separating and forwarding means including pneumatic means arranged to engage a sheet its leading edge inward beneath said sheet in order to engage the lapped relation,

surface, and a series of axially spaced feed rollers sheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already being forwarded by said members, and means for moving said first pneumatic means around the lateral edges of a sheet separated thereby and into said space beneath it, in order to act on another sheet.

4. In' a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet separating means and sheet forwarding means adapted to convey sheets in lapped relation to a paper handling machine such as a printing .press, said separating and forwarding means in eluding pneumatic means arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surface adjacent its leading edge and separate it from a pile of sheets, second pneumatic means operated to take over a separated sheet from said first mentioned pneumatic means and engage thesheet at its lower surface, and a series of axially spaced .forwarding members arranged to receive separated sheets from said second pneumatic means and advance them in lapped. relation, said latter'pneumatic means being arranged to rock around the axis of said spaced forwarding members and operating withinthe space provided between adjacent forwarding members to transfer sheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already beingforwarded by said members.

5. In a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet separating means and sheet forwarding means adaptedto convey sheets in lapped relation to a paper handling machine such as a printing press, said separating and forwarding means including pneumatic means arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surface adjacent its leading edge and separate it from a pile of sheets thereby providing a space beneath said sheet, second pneumatic means operatedto take over a separated sheet from said first mentioned pneumatic means and engage the sheet at its lower surface, a series of axially spaced forwarding members arranged to receive separated sheets from said second pneumatic means and advance them in said latter pneumatic means being. arranged to rock around the axis of said spaced forwarding members and operating with-' in the space provided between adjacent forwarding members to transfer sheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already being forwardedby said members, and means for moving said first pneumatic means beyond the edge of a sheet separated thereby and into said space beneath it, in order to act on another sheet.

6. In a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet separating means andsheet forwardingmeans adapted to convey sheets in lapped relation to a paper handling machine such as aprinting press,

said separating and forwarding means including pneumatic means arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surface adjacent its leading edge and separate it from a pile of sheets, a plurality of second pneumatic means operated to take over a separated sheet from said first mentioned pneumatic means and engage the sheet at its lower surface, both of said-pneumatic means operating beneath the previously separated sheets, and a series of axiallyspaced forwarding members arranged to receive separated sheets from said second pneumatic means and advance them in lapped relation, each of said latter pneumatic means operating within the space provided between a pair of said forwarding members to transfer sheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already being forwarded by said members.

' 7. In a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet paper handling machine such as a printing press,

said separating and forwarding means including pneumatic means arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surface adjacent its leading edge and separate it from a pile of sheets thereby providing a space beneath said sheet, second pneumatic means operated to take over a separated sheet from said first mentioned pneumatic means and engage the sheet at its lower surface, both of said pneumatic means operating beneath previously separated sheets, a series of axially spaced forwarding members arranged to receive separated sheets from said second. pneumatic means and advance them in lapped relation, said latter pneumatic means operating within the space provided between adjacent forwarding members to transfer sheets to the latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already being forwarded by said members,'and means for moving said first pneumatic means around thelateral edge of a sheet separated thereby and into said space beneath it, in order to act on another sheet.

8. In a sheet feeder, the combination of sheet separating means and sheet forwarding means adapted to convey sheets in lapped relation to a paper handling machine such as a printing press, said separating and forwarding means including suction nozzles arranged to engage a sheet at its upper surface adjacent its leading edge and separate it from a pile of sheets thereby providing a. space beneath said sheet, second suction nozzles operated to take over a separated sheet from said first mentioned suction nozzles and engage the sheet at its lower surface, a series of axially spaced feed rollers arranged to receive separated sheets from said second suction nozzles and advance them in lapped relation, said latter nozzles operating within the space provided between adjacent feed rollers to transfer sheets tothe latter and beneath the lowermost one of sheets already being forwarded by said rollers, and means for moving said first suction nozzles around the lateral edges of asheet separated thereby and into said space beneath it, in order to' act on another sheet.

ROBERT REINARTZ. 

